Every Don Cheadle Movie, Ranked By Fans

Ranker Film
Updated September 15, 2023 1.4K votes 255 voters 36.9K views
Over 200 Ranker voters have come together to rank this list of Every Don Cheadle Movie, Ranked By Fans
Voting Rules
Vote for your favorite Don Cheadle movies, regardless of critic reviews or how big the role was.
Latest additions: White Noise
Most divisive: Fail Safe

More than 250 movie fans have come together to cast their votes for the best Don Cheadle films. With a long and varied career in both television and film, Don Cheadle has become one of Hollywood's most respected and beloved actors. From his early days in popular films like Boogie Nights to his critically acclaimed performances in Hotel Rwanda and Crash, it's no wonder why he is so highly regarded.

Don Cheadle has played an impressive range of characters over the years, from comic book villains to heroic fighters for justice. He gravitates towards roles that are layered, complex, and often morally ambiguous. His nuanced portrayals never fail to leave an impression on viewers - which might explain why these movies consistently rank among some of the best films ever made.

Some of Don Cheadle's top-rated films include Ocean's Eleven, Iron Man 2 (as War Machine), Talk To Me (as Ralph Waldo Greene), Out Of Sight (as Maurice 'Snoopy' Miller) as well as Miles Ahead (which he also directed). No matter what genre you love or how much time you've got to spend watching movies – there’s something here for everybody. So take a look at this list compiled by fellow fans of Don Chaedle’s work – vote up your favorite titles.

Ranked by
  • Hotel Rwanda
    1

    Hotel Rwanda

    Don Cheadle, Sophie Okonedo, Joaquin Phoenix
    58 votes
    • Released: 2004
    • Directed by: Terry George
    In Hotel Rwanda, Paul Rusesabagina (Don Cheadle), a hotel manager, finds himself in the midst of the Rwandan genocide. As chaos engulfs the nation, he transforms his luxurious Hotel des Mille Collines into a refuge. With Tutsis being hunted and killed by the Hutu militia, Rusesabagina uses his wit and courage to save over a thousand refugees, including his own family. Sophie Okonedo plays Tatiana, Paul's supportive wife. This gripping historical drama, directed by Terry George, is based on true events and earned three Academy Award nominations.

    Available On:

    subscription

    free

  • Traffic
    2

    Traffic

    Michael Douglas, Don Cheadle, Benicio Del Toro
    36 votes
    • Released: 2000
    • Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
    Traffic, a complex and gripping drama, weaves together three intertwined stories of the international drug trade. In Washington, D.C., Robert Wakefield (Michael Douglas), a conservative judge, is appointed to spearhead the war against drugs only to discover his daughter is an addict. In San Diego, undercover DEA agents, Montel Gordon (Don Cheadle) and Ray Castro (Luis Guzman), face moral dilemmas as their job infiltrates their personal lives. Lastly, in Mexico, Javier Rodriguez (Benicio Del Toro), a state cop struggles with corruption all around him. Directed by Steven Soderbergh, this Oscar-winning film intricately explores the far-reaching effects of the narcotics industry.

    Available On:

    subscription

  • Traitor
    3

    Traitor

    Don Cheadle, Guy Pearce, Said Taghmaoui
    35 votes
    • Released: 2008
    • Directed by: Jeffrey Nachmanoff
    When straight-arrow agent Roy Clayton (Guy Pearce) assumes command of a special FBI task force, he becomes entangled in a web of covert operations. All the clues in Clayton's investigation point to Samir Horn (Don Cheadle), a former Special Ops soldier who now aids terrorists. But as Clayton digs deeper and contradictory evidence begins to emerge, he begins to question Horn's motives.

    Available On:

    free

  • Boogie Nights
    4

    Boogie Nights

    Mark Wahlberg, Burt Reynolds, Julianne Moore
    30 votes
    • Released: 1997
    • Directed by: Paul Thomas Anderson
    In the vivid, pulsating world of 1970s California pornography, Boogie Nights tells the tale of Eddie Adams (Mark Wahlberg). A young man with big dreams and an even bigger talent, Eddie is discovered by industry veteran Jack Horner (Burt Reynolds), who christens him 'Dirk Diggler'. As Dirk, Eddie ascends stardom's dizzying heights but soon learns that fame comes at a steep price. Directed by Paul Thomas Anderson, this drama delves into the dark underbelly of the golden age of adult entertainment. The film earned three Oscar nominations, including Best Original Screenplay and Best Supporting Actor for Reynolds.

    Available On:

    subscription

  • Iron Man 3
    5

    Iron Man 3

    Robert Downey, Gwyneth Paltrow, Don Cheadle
    34 votes
    • Released: 2013
    • Directed by: Shane Black
    Iron Man 3, an action-packed superhero film, follows the journey of Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) as he grapples with his past and future. Post-Avengers, he faces a formidable foe in the form of terrorist Mandarin (Ben Kingsley), while battling his own inner demons. Pepper Potts (Gwyneth Paltrow) and James Rhodes (Don Cheadle) return, lending support to Stark's plight. Directed by Shane Black, this third installment won the Saturn Award for Best Comic-to-Film Motion Picture. It offers a thrilling blend of stark realities and high-tech fantasy, pushing Iron Man to new limits.

    Available On:

    subscription

  • Ocean's Eleven
    6

    Ocean's Eleven

    George Clooney, Matt Damon, Andy Garcia
    40 votes
    • Released: 2001
    • Directed by: Steven Soderbergh
    Ocean's Eleven, a stylish heist film, revolves around the suave mastermind Danny Ocean (George Clooney) and his handpicked crew of specialists. The team, including the likes of Rusty Ryan (Brad Pitt) and Linus Caldwell (Matt Damon), embarks on an audacious mission. They aim to simultaneously rob three Las Vegas casinos - Bellagio, Mirage and MGM Grand - all owned by ruthless tycoon Terry Benedict (Andy Garcia). Director Steven Soderbergh expertly weaves this intricate plot with wit and slick dialogue, earning the film five nominations at the 2002 BAFTA Awards. With its blend of crime, comedy, and suspense, Ocean's Eleven is a cinematic rollercoaster ride in the world of high-stakes thievery.

    Available On:

    subscription